Arsenic found in 11 bottled water brands, Consumer Reports says The quality or safety of Crystal Geyser bottled water was not questioned as part of this case. Bottled-water giant CG Roxane LLC, which owns the Crystal Geyser brand, pleaded guilty in January to one count of unlawful storage of hazardous waste and one count of unlawfultransportation of hazardous material, according to a Justice Department news release issued Wednesday. How to Check If Your Bottled Water Has Been Recalled Due to - ABC News In 2015, Crystal Geyser hired United Pumping Services and United Storm Water, both based in Los Angeles County, to drain and transport the arsenic-contaminated water. It was a long, grinding campaign, said Bruce Shoemaker, one of the residents who helped found Water for Citizens of Weed, CA, the group that fought to regain the citys rights to the spring. Some of the water was transported to a hazardous waste facility in Los Angeles County. California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Gavin Newsom. 'N' stands for neutral. The indictment further alleges that, in March 2015, Crystal Geyser regenerated and back-flushed the sand filters and, it hired United Pumping and United Storm Water to transport the resulting several thousand gallons of high pH, arsenic-contaminated wastewater to a hazardous waste facility in Los Angeles County. A Battle Over Water Comes to a Sweet End - The New York Times Thank you. According to the indictment, in producing its bottled water, Crystal Geyser would draw water from natural sources that contained naturally occurring arsenic. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. A separate eminent domain lawsuit by the city was underway when the water deal emerged. For the purposes of this Order, Crystal Geyser Roxane, LLC is referred to as the There is still a transportation process, along with a treatment process, thats involved. Crystal Geyser bottled water maker admits dumping arsenic in Californian water Local authorities who sampled local water quality found arsenic concentrations above hazardous waste limit. 08-22-2017, View Sources Or could it be bad for you? More harmful than beneficial. Jefferson Public Radio | The indictment alleges that Crystal Geyser discharged the arsenic-contaminated wastewater into a nearby manmade pond which Crystal Geyser called the Arsenic Pond. In September 2014, testing by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) showed that the wastewater stored in the Arsenic Pond constituted a hazardous waste. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Other companies may truck their spring water from multiple sources. The company that produces Crystal Geyser bottled water has been ordered by a federal judge to pay $5 million in fines and serve three years probation for illegally storing and transporting. A brand of spring water, Crystal Geyser was founded in 1990 and is sourced right here in the United Statesfrom private wells in northern California to the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The legal battle also took its toll on the residents who got involved. A representative from Crystal Geyser did not respond to a request for comment. Recalls for March 2023 - ConsumerAffairs Owners Keurig-Dr. Pepper said it has since stopped production to improve arsenic filtration. Plum Sake Sangria Serves 4 If exposed to toxic levels of arsenic, poisoning can result in severe digestion issues, skin discoloration, liver and kidney failure, destruction of red blood cells, and death. The facility could hold up to 1,000 children. SNAP EBT eligible. But CG Roxane is about results and not promises, and is proud to release data from the SolarEdge Smart Panels that were installed at its San Bernardino plant, the site of its first recycled PET plant to be opened by a U.S. beverage company, in June 2021. But this wasnt because the EWG detected a lot of impurities or toxins within the water itself. Crystal Geyser water might not be that great for you. You love sparkling water, and we do too! In 2017, after residents lodged a complaint to state agencies claiming the citys right to the water, the timber company that claimed rights to the spring, Roseburg Forest Products, sued the city, Water for Citizens of Weed and its nine members individually. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet. Manganese toxicity has a devastating effect on the muscles, mimicking Parkinson's disease. A judge ruled in favor of the residents, and an appeal by the timber company was ultimately dropped. Suite 1200 A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction. A locked padlock Todays charges demonstrate that those who refuse to comply with the law will be held to account and prosecuted.. And on their official website, Crystal Geyser proudly touts that they are an independent, family-owned enterprise. Crystal Geyser Lawsuit Continues Anyone can read what you share. The company was then left with the task of disposing of the poisonous water and the contaminated storing pond. LOS ANGELES - The company that produces "Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water" pleaded guilty this morning to federal charges of illegally storing and transporting hazardous waste created from filtering arsenic out of spring water at its facility in Olancha, California. Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water is the number one nationally distributed bottled spring water in the United States and is a product of CG Roxane. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region (Water Board), finds: 1. We did not have a tradition of community activism until this came along. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American. This process would generate thousands of gallons of arsenic-contaminated wastewater. As the first U.S. beverage company to build and run a PET recycling (rPET) plant, we're able to recycle nearly one billion bottles worth of plastic a year, which means we're not just talking about sustainability we're taking action for the planet. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water). Laura Cunningham, California Director of Western Watersheds Project, said that pollution from industrial waste has been a particularly common issue in Californias recent history. So, after the recalls, the companys own test results show Starkey Spring Water still has arsenic levels at eight parts per billion, which is federally compliant but above what some states, health officials and Consumer Reports considers safe, Consumer Reports investigative reporter Ryan Felton said. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious. W.A.T.E.R. 335. According to the indictment, after that March regeneration, in April 2015, DTSC informed Crystal Geyser that the wastewater in the Arsenic Pond constituted a hazardous waste and instructed Crystal Geyser to remove that wastewater from the Arsenic Pond and to transport it, using a hazardous waste manifest, to an authorized facility permitted to accept that specific type of hazardous waste. CG Roxane Goes Straight to the Source in its Newest Campaign - PR Newswire PDF IN.gov | The Official Website of the State of Indiana 2023 www.desertsun.com. The alleged behavior of the three companies charged in this indictment undermines that important objective and jeopardizes the safety of our community.. This is unfortunate because high levels of manganese can cause added bacterial growth in the water. Thank you! Jefferson Public Radio. Consumer Reports believes the allowed limit should be changed to no more than three parts per billion. Side effects are rare. Consumer Reports believes the allowed limit should be changed to no more than three parts per billion. It does feel like a victory however were all very much aware that in California with the rules the way they are its a little like whack-a-mole, Stevens says. According to the indictment, Crystal Geyser, United Pumping, and United Storm Water transported the contents of the Arsenic Pond using non-hazardous waste manifests and did not identify the arsenic in the wastewater, even though they knew that the water constituted arsenic hazardous waste. or redistributed. But even though Crystal Geyser is not very transparent about their bottling and purification process, its still probably a healthier alternative to drinking tap water. The seven and one-half years of persistent community work paid off. She says theyre relieved by the news, but worries about what she calls lax water-use regulations that allowed it to be built in the first place. Ing Cherry Blossom season is among us! The investigation in this matter is being conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigations Division and the United States Department of Transportations Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The Facility has been in operation since 1990. When it comes to bottled water, todays consumers have a lot of choices: well water, distilled water, mineral water or spring water; glass or plastic packaging; and the addition of electrolytes, minerals and more. From the moment it is contained in the plastic bottle, it starts to eat out the plastic container. Kyodo News agency, meanwhile, said an estimated 8 million bottles would be recalled. Tuesday: The conclusion of a fight between a little town and a big timber company over who owned the rights to a pristine spring. Very healthy and numerous health benefits.